I’ve decided to do a version of The List for the Synthwave.net section of Vehlinggo. I went with some bigger names and balanced those out with a few lesser-known artists that are worth your time. There are New Arcades, who are definitely the closest thing to synthwave pioneers here. However, you’ll also find a Valerie-evoking cut inspired by an owl, and many points in between. Somehow I ended up collab-heavy, but I’m into it. Let’s go for a ride, shall we?
(Note: If you didn’t know, you can click on the Synthwave.net section in the nav bar, or just type in that domain name, whenever you want to access it. I’ve owned the domain for years now and started the section in 2020, when I was changing up the site’s coverage a bit.)
New Arcades — “Still Falling”
These Brits have been releasing synthwave since as early as 2012 and they rarely miss. Their latest, “Still Falling,” is a beautiful blend of dreamy, colorful synth arps, dark synth stabs, emotional vocals, and arena-sized drums. It unfurls in a kind of stasis, like the entire thing is encased in a force field that keeps it focused on one or two very specific moments of vulnerability. This works wonders, giving the song either an interlude or, especially, a potential needle-drop quality. Take a deep breath and dive in. Keep falling. You’ll have a beautiful time.
Magnavolt & Megan McDuffee — “Enjoy the Silence”
These two synthwave powerhouses, Sweden-based Magnavolt and US-based Megan McDuffee, have teamed up to do something rather audacious: a cover of Depeche Mode’s classic “Enjoy the Silence.” This is one of those songs that is so well known and memorable that any cover has a hurdle the size of the Rose Bowl to overcome. One way to achieve success with this would be to undertake an entirely different genre. Another, at least for an electronic artist, is to mix things up enough such that one’s musical identity dominates. The duo chose the latter, and it works well. They’ve turned the song into a slow, pulsating cinematic machine with McDuffee’s counteracting angelic vocals floating above like a graceful antidote. To that end, it’s much more of an electronic gothic/cyberpunk number than the dark dance cut DM originally yielded 26 years ago. You can find it on the streamers.
MEGAS & Krosia — “Dream Engine”
This is the first of a couple chillsynth numbers I’m sharing today. “Dream Engine” is off Lofi Girl’s 4 a.m. Chill Session comp. As you’d imagine from something curated by the famous lofi YouTuber, this cut has a serene, unassuming quality to it. The arrangement slowly, beautifully, and steadily flows in such a way as to complement one’s comedown after a long night out. Now the computer screen’s a-glow and the headphones are in. We don’t want bombast, or a razor edge. We want a smooth transition into the sleepy beyond. The whole comp is out now on streamers and Bandcamp (the latter with a vinyl option).
Sandor Gavin and jacket. — “Dissipate”
These coupla-American synthwavers (New York and Colorado, respectively) have been putting out delightful music for a while now, even if this publication has (sadly) missed the boat on their catalogue. Their new collab, “Dissipate,” is a vapory gem of mind expansion that has just enough energy to be a transition point between Lofi Girl and a higher-tempo act like FM-84. It’s laidback but not catatonic and all things gorgeous. I don’t know about you, but I like to listen to music in an almost narrative way. I’m not into jarring cuts in real life — save that for the pictures and TV. I want things to ebb and flow. This gem fits the bill. Even if you’re not like me, I think this track is going to stick with you for a long time. Out now on streamers via NYC-based Mirrorgate Media.
Polar Baron — “Eyes on You”
I love when musicians have quirky or off-beat inspirations for their work. In the case of Canadian synthwaver Polar Baron, “Eyes on You” draws inspiration from the short-eared owl pictured on the song’s cover art. (PB took the photo.) A bit like that species, this number punches far above its weight. Musically, “Eyes” has a minimalist, unpolished, but impactful quality that drew me to early synthwave so many years ago. Given the ubiquity of synth folks of a certain inclination more or less trying to copy The Midnight or Ollie Wride, I always welcome it when an artist reminds me more of late 2000s Futurecop! or the Valerie Collective. Perhaps it’s, as I mentioned on State of the Synth last fall, that I can get “nostalgic for nostalgia.” Regardless, don’t sleep on this. It’s on the streamers.
Edward Grant — “Void Runner”
I’m closing out today with another more retro-minded synthwave tune called “Void Runner.” The US-based musician offers up a relatively simple and straightforward action-flick number that nevertheless is packed with big emotion: a lot of high-stakes blood, sweat, and tears laced with just enough trepidation to give it all a lot of potential energy. I’ve seen this kind of song referred to as “crimewave” or “crimesynth,” but back in my day we’d just toss out classifiers like “synthwave,” “retrosynth,” or “retrowave” (admittedly, I used to use the middle term way more than most 10-plus years ago). Whatever you call it, I’m diggin’ Grant’s vibe here. There is a slight callback to some of OGRE’s concept albums.
